Biden Delivers Second State of the Union to Divided Congress

President Joe Biden delivered his second State of the Union address Tuesday night, praising bipartisan legislative efforts and promoting Democratic policies before a divided congress.

Details: Throughout the speech, Biden emphasized growth and recovery in America— from the nation’s continued emergence out of the COVID-19 pandemic to federal investments in infrastructure laid out in the Inflation Recovery Act. Biden began his speech by congratulating Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) on his ascension to Speaker of the House and praising other top lawmakers such as Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

Key Quotes: The president stated that “we are writing the next chapter in the great American story, a story of progress and resilience.” After Biden stated that “some Republicans” want to cut Social Security and Medicare, some Republican lawmakers voiced their displeasure, leading Biden to state, “so folks, as we all apparently agree, Social Security and Medicare is off the books now,” which garnered applause. Speaking on last week’s news of a Chinese spy balloon floating over the U.S. that was eventually shot down, Biden stated, “make no mistake, as we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country, and we did.”

How The Media Covered It: The address was covered prominently across the spectrum. The exchange with Republicans over Social Security and Medicare was frequently noted, especially in right-rated outlets.